ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Amgen Staff Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity

May 19, 2017 1:50 PM ET

Amgen employees from the Corporate Audit team at the Thousand Oaks, CA HQ volunteered at their local Habitat for Humanity. Not only did they learn valuable skills, they helped provide housing for families in need.

Environment

TD Bank Group Wins U.S. Department of Energy's Green Lease Leader Award

May 19, 2017 1:05 PM ET

On May 15, the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Buildings Alliance announced the 2017 Green Lease Leaders at the Better Buildings Summit in Washington, D.C. This year’s Green Lease Leader portfolio, which collectively spans almost 200 million square feet of commercial, retail and industrial buildings across North America, recognizes companies who effectively leverage their lease as a smart tool to achieve higher energy and water savings.

Health & Healthcare

Report Calls for Better Measurement of Access-to-Medicine Programs to Support the World’s Poorest

May 19, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Pharmaceutical companies have long experience in measuring the impact of their business programs. The same should apply to their access-to-medicine efforts. Richard Laing, from the Boston University (BU) School of Public Health and former World Health Organization official, says that many efforts to expand access to medicines fail to gather sufficient evidence on how effective they are.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Morgan Stanley and The Economist Intelligence Unit Release New Index to Support Investment in Inclusive Growth

May 19, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Today the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing announced the Inclusive Growth Opportunities Index, a report and interactive tool for investors to explore technology-based opportunities that support inclusive economic growth – the first in a body of work that the Institute will produce to help drive private capital toward reducing inequality.

Energy

International Living Future Institute and New Buildings Institute Partner to Accelerate the Zero Energy Movement

May 19, 2017 11:30 AM ET

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and New Buildings Institute (NBI) today announced a partnership that will streamline and strengthen the tracking and certification of zero energy (ZE) buildings in order to drive broader market adoption, codification and standardization of ZE technologies in everyday buildings.

Diversity & Inclusion

PayPal’s Brandon Tineo on Strong Work Ethic Creating Opportunity

May 19, 2017 11:15 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Astellas Named 2017 When Work Works Honoree by the Society for Human Resource Management

May 19, 2017 11:10 AM ET

Yesterday, Astellas was named an honoree of the 2017 When Work Works award by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
The award honors organizations that have created effective workplaces based on six evidence-based components connected to positive employee and employer outcomes: autonomy; work/life fit; supervisor support for work success; earnings, benefits and advancement opportunities; learning opportunities; and a culture of trust.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Making Unadoptable Unacceptable

May 19, 2017 11:00 AM ET

With more than 130,000 children in foster care who are in need of a permanent, loving home, foster care adoption is as critical as ever. Learn why we believe that unadoptable is unacceptable. #FosterCareMonth

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Samsung Employees Nationwide Swap the Office for Day of Service

May 19, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today will host its bi-annual, companywide Day of Service throughout their national locations in New Jersey, New York, Texas, California and Washington, D.C. and regional offices. The event, which occurs each spring and fall, is part of the company’s overarching Samsung Gives initiative, a platform that creates service opportunities for Samsung employees to connect to meaningful causes within their own communities.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Hospitalized Children Experience a ‘Moment of Magic’ Thanks to a College Student with a Big Heart

May 19, 2017 10:00 AM ET

When Kylee McGrane sat down with her family to watch Frozen, it gave her a great idea – and she just couldn’t let it go. Realizing that she looked like Elsa and that her best friend, Maggie McAndrew, looked like Anna, she had an “a-ha moment” that would become her next service project: she wanted to start visiting hospitals as the princesses from Frozen.

Responsible Production & Consumption

PepsiCo Advances 2025 Sustainability Agenda through Agreement with Partnership for a Healthier America

May 19, 2017 10:00 AM ET

PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) announced that it has signed an agreement with Partnership for a Healthier America ("PHA") to independently report and verify the company's progress against previously outlined goals designed to transform its product portfolio and offer healthier options.

Social Impact & Volunteering

More Than 105,000 Comcast Cares Day Volunteers Improve Communities Worldwide

May 19, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Our employees, their friends and families rolled up their sleeves and joined with our community partners to give back at more than 1,000 local projects across the U.S. and in 22 other countries. We also hit a milestone with more than 5 million total service hours donated since Comcast Cares Day began in 2001.

Sustainable Development Goals

Daimler's Sustainable Management

May 19, 2017 9:00 AM ET

As a globally operating automobile manufacturer, we face industryspecific challenges whose associated opportunities need to be exploited and whose risks need to be minimized.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Palapye Schoolchildren Get New Classrooms Through Donations from Debswana and Partners

May 19, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Students with learning difficulties at a school in Botswana have moved into a new P1.3 million (US$124,000) classroom block funded mainly by Debswana.

Research, Reports & Publications

MetLife Foundation Is Proud to Present Its 2016 Annual Report

May 19, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The right financial services can make all the difference. For families. For financial institutions. For communities. For families, financial inclusion means having the tools to manage money, deal with setbacks, and seize opportunities.

Health & Healthcare

Auditing Takes Center Stage in FSMA

May 19, 2017 9:00 AM ET

In today’s complex global supply chain and environment of ever-expanding market requirements, it has become common to rely on third-party audits to help assure the safety of one’s supplies. Not only are food safety regulations driving this uptick, but retailers and other buyers are demanding it to reduce risk to consumer and brand value.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) emphasizes prevention and accountability across the supply chain to ensure the safety of foods consumed within the U.S., irrespective of where the food is produced. Four out of seven of the regulations finalized under FSMA address auditing in some manner. What do you need to know about these audits and your auditor?

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Booz Allen Hamilton a LinkedIn Top 40 Company

May 19, 2017 7:00 AM ET

From Hackathons and the Data Science Bowl to the DC Innovation Center, the collaborative, mission-focused culture at Booz Allen Hamilton has set the firm apart, and the industry is starting to take notice. This week, the firm was named to LinkedIn's 2017 Top Companies list, which celebrates the world’s most sought-after places to work.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Recruitment, Retention and Advancement Efforts Supporting Top Diverse Talent Earn it Recognition as One of 2017 Best Companies for Multicultural Women

May 18, 2017 6:10 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, was named one of the best companies for multicultural women to work for in 2017 by Working Mother magazine. This honor recognizes U.S. companies that create and use best practices in hiring, retaining and promoting women of color. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the list, and the 7th year that Sodexo was recognized. The complete list is featured in the June/July issue of Working Mother.

Green Infrastructure

Mohawk Group Becomes First Ever Flooring Manufacturer to Achieve Living Product Challenge Petal Certification

May 18, 2017 5:20 PM ET

Mohawk Group, a leading commercial flooring company known for cutting-edge and innovative flooring solutions, has just become the first flooring manufacturer to achieve Living Product Challenge Petal certification for the company’s new Lichen modular plank carpet system. The certification, which presents the most rigorous standard for sustainable manufacturing, was officially announced today at the International Living Future Institute’s (ILFI) annual unConference in Seattle.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

GOJO Commitment to Sustainability Recognized by the EPA

May 18, 2017 5:20 PM ET

Sustainability is inherent to the GOJO Purpose, Saving Lives and Making Life Better Through Well-Being Solutions. Through leading and learning, GOJO team members collaborate with customers, suppliers, partners and communities on how we can all work together to create a brighter future and healthier world.

Events, Media & Communications

Upcoming Webinar on The Future of Sustainable Packaging

May 18, 2017 3:30 PM ET

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center, in partnership with Tetra Pak Inc., is hosting a “peek under the package” webinar exploring the future of sustainable packaging. Panelists will discuss emerging technologies and innovations across the life cycle related to sustainable packaging – including materials, products and applications – that have the potential to disrupt the fast-moving consumer goods and packaging industries.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Nonprofit Spotlight: Dave Thomas Foundation

May 18, 2017 3:15 PM ET

Twenty-five years ago, Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas embarked on a revolutionary mission. His goal: Make the adoption system in America work for all children in need of adoptive families.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Conservation Fund Announces Nine Recipients of Healthy Foods Grants in North Carolina

May 18, 2017 3:10 PM ET

The Conservation Fund today announced the grant recipients for the On Track with Healthy Foods grants program, sponsored by CSX. Nine community- and faith-based groups will receive grants to increase access to healthy foods in vulnerable and underserved communities in the Twin Counties.

Research, Reports & Publications

Eaton Publishes a New Online Sustainability Report for 2016. We Make a Healthy Planet Work.

May 18, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Scotiabank Impact Story: Responding to the Customer’s Voice in Peru

May 18, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Digital tools are revolutionizing the way we bank. Computers, mobile phones and networks of ABMs have made it easier than ever for customers anywhere, anytime, to effectively manage their finances.